Atmospheric Circulation Role on Air Pollutants (PM₁₀, NO_X, O₃): Two Different Approaches

Abstract

Hourly PM₁₀, NO_X and O₃ samples were collected simultaneously, at a rural rapid developing area, the Mesogia Plain. The measurements took place both winter (10) and summer (10) days, at five different sites of the area, during the period of 2008. The influence of the synoptic and mesoscale circulation on the configuration of the obtained air pollution patterns, is the motivation of the specific work. Two different approaches were adopted. Following the first one, the day by day synoptic conditions were classified at the isobaric level of 850 hPa. The classification scheme resulted in six synoptic categories. Following the second approach, the experimental days were classified according to the prevailing pressure systems on the surface charts, resulting into three different types. Then, with the aid of hourly wind data, five different mesoscale patterns were identified. The data analysis verified the significance of the prevailing meteorological conditions. However, the key role of the emissions, the difference on the character of the air pollutants as well as the complicity of the aerosols sources proved to be determinant for the absence of significant relationship between the inorganic pollutants and PM₁₀.